Keep Cats Indoors

Indoor cats live much longer than cats that go outdoors. Car collisions, attacks by other animals, and even sometimes by people, claim the lives of many outdoor cats while
they are still very young.

Indoor cats are healthier. Diseases like FIV (feline AIDS) and feline leukemia are contracted through blood and saliva. There is no vaccination to prevent FIV.

Don't Tie or Chain Dogs Outside

Dogs are social creatures. They get bored when tied up and can break
loose. They get hit by cars or
run away and can't find their way back home. Thousands of lost, unclaimed
dogs are euthanized in New York shelters every year.

Dogs that run loose or are left unattended in their yard can also be
stolen and sold to laboratories or to dogfight operations.

Giving your dog lots of exercise and a safe place to live inside will
help ensure a happy member of your family.

Obey Leash Laws

Even dogs who know their way home can get lost, hit by cars, attacked
by other animals, or caught in traps set for wildlife.

Fix Broken Latches on Doors and Gates

Make sure they can't be easily pushed open.

Supervise young children when going in and out of the house - some dogs
and cats are notoriously good "darters."

Check for spaces under fences where "diggers" can get under.

Keep Identification Tags On Your Pet

License and rabies tags

Your own ID tag with your phone number

Ask your veterinarian about tattoos and microchips. (Microchipping is
also done at MHHS.)

Spay or Neuter Your Pet

It helps stop the desire to roam.

Spaying or neutering by six months of age can also prevent and even
solve common behavior problems
like "marking" and leg lifting, and even some aggressive behaviors.

Spaying or neutering can also help prevent diseases later in life, like
cancer.